SLA uses Mannar civilians human shield to avoid claymore attack

[TamilNet, Thursday, 11 May 2006, 14:30 GMT]
Civilians who are traveling by road from Nanattan to Mannar via Vankalai are forcibly taken by soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army on foot as human shield to avoid claymore attacks on their way to army camps. Civilians who use transport services between Nanattan-Mannar Road are asked to get down at Vankalai by soldiers and to join them on foot till they reach their two-army camps located in Naravalikulam and Pasthipuram along Nanattan-Vankalai road, civilian sources said.

Shrub jungles and paddy fields surround Nanattan-Vankalai Road. On April 27 three army soldiers were killed in a claymore mine attack targeted a group of them when they were taking food to their fellow soldiers in Naravalikulam and Pasthipuram camps. Since then SLA soldiers who use this road have been taking civilians as human shields to avoid fresh claymore mine attack, sources said.

Motorcyclists and pedal cyclists are also asked by SLA soldiers to join them by foot between the two camps, sources said.

People of Nanattan have started using Murunkan route to reach Mannar instead of Nanattan-Vankalai road to avoid army's compulsion, sources said.

Mr.Selvam Adaikalanathan, Wanni district parliamentarian has brought this to the notice of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). SLMM has promised to look into the problem, sources said.